The development of reading skills is one of the most important goals of education, and Dr. Stephen Krashen of the University of Southern California is one of the foremost experts on this subject in the world. This podcast is a recording of Dr. Krashen's third presentation at the 2006 Encyclo-Media Conference, hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Education on 31 August and 1 September 2006 in Oklahoma City. Dr. Krashen addressed a wide range of issues and questions relating to reading development, focusing on the importance of students having access to text along with safe, comfortable environments where they can spend time reading and getting lost in books. From the value of Accelerated Reader testing and reward programs, to comic books, to the current politically-charged literacy debates in the United States over the fabricated "crisis in literacy," Dr. Krashen cited the relevant research studies and distilled the academic findings for each issue into practical recommendations for teachers, librarians, parents, administrators and politicians. Students need to read more, and we need to do more to provide them with access to texts. He concludes that we need to focus less on testing in the United States. Based on research indicating dollars spent on computer technology have had little impact on student learning and student achievement, we should spend less on technology and more on books for libraries as well as salaries for credentialed librarians and library assistants who can free librarians to do their vital work: Helping readers connect with texts which engage them and thereby transform their personal learning landscapes forever.

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